Florida Orange Peels: Are They Cancer Fighters?

Most of us get our dose of Florida orange juice by pouring a glass out of a carton we keep in the refrigerator. If we happen to pick up some fresh at the grocers, we peel them and eat them out of hand or use them to liven up a salad or a meal. What most of us don’t do is eat the peel.

Let’s face it, with the exception of some hard core cooks who regularly zest the peel, orange peels are considered trash. We toss them away and enjoy the sweet flavor of the juice and pulp. But by throwing them away we may also be throwing away a powerful cancer preventive.

It’s long been known that the people who live in the Mediterranean have lower incidence of numerous types of cancers that tend to be very common in the rest of the world. New studies attribute at least part of that to the Mediterranean tradition of including peels and zest from fruit in their diet.

As it turns out, the orange peel contains high levels of limonene which energizes our antioxidant enzyme system. Stopping free radicals before they form is a great way to prevent the formation of mutated cells which can lead to cancer.

In addition, limonene can interrupt and reduce the activity of proteins that can trigger abnormal cell growth particularly in skin cancer. Given the temperate climate and constant exposure to the sun that Mediterraneans face, and their low skin cancer rate, this would seem to be proof positive of the value of the orange peel.

But it’s not just skin cancer that this powerful phytonutrient fights. Studies have shown that limonene, along with other anticancer inhibitors in oranges, plays a significant role in reducing lung cancer, colon cancer, cancer of the cervix and breast cancer. In fact the National Cancer Institute calls the orange the best natural anticancer food available.

So how do you get some of this good cancer fighting stuff into your body? It’s easy, just add the peel to your diet. You probably already know the value of zesting the orange peel to add a little zing to your favorite recipe but have you tried steeping that same zest in hot water and making an orange tea? In fact you don’t have to go to the trouble of zesting. Just slice up the peel and add it to boiling water. The white, bitter part inside the peel won’t affect the taste when used this way.

Why not do a little research and learn from the masters how to use this peel. Check out Mediterranean recipes for some great ideas to include the cancer prevention value of the Florida orange.

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